In the 1600s, Europe had teeming populations, it was impossible to acquire land, there were virtually no economic opportunities and even less religious tolerance.
Waves of settlers came to the "Province of Mayne" to take advantage of its abundant natural resources. Despite backbreaking work, an unbelievably harsh climate and cultural differences among the French, Native and English populations, the settlers carved out a new life for themselves.
They traded furs, created a fishing industry and supplied lumber for barrels, masts and even houses in the Caribbean. Initially, the mutually beneficial trade relationships created confidence between the Native and English populations. But as Natives began to be crowded off their lands and trust between the English and Natives broke down, a series of wars broke out that would destroy any hope for lasting peace between the two populations. By the end of the century, most of the English settlers would leave Maine in fear and live for years at a time as war refugees.
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